PRAISE GOD FOR HIS GRACE
Lay Pastor Harijono
Johor, Sunday, February 11, 2018
Shalom,
By the grace of God, the Ephesians (gentiles) heard the Word of God preached by, among others, Paul and Apollos (Acts 18-19). Consequently, they became believers thanks to His Grace. In the same way, thanks to His grace, we were saved through faith. That’s why we honor and sing praises to God the Father in Jesus Christ.
We have found out that the Apostle Paul penned the Letter to the Ephesians when he was in jail, going through torment and oppression. Despite his afflictions, thanks to God’s grace, he was able to write the Epistle for the gentiles to read.
In the Tabernacle Study, the Letter to the Ephesians points to the Table of Showbread. Jesus – the Bread of Life (John 6: 35) – is seated on the table of our justified and sanctified hearts. If our hearts have room for the Bread of Life – the dynamic Word of God, we will be empowered to survive any life’s storms. On top of that, our relationship with Him will allow us to live and grow strong like what happened to the believers in Ephesus who used to worship idols. Through the preaching of the Gospel, they became believers. Following that, they were baptized and overwhelmed with the Holy Spirit.
The Ephesians had a reason to praise and give thanks to God the Father in Jesus Christ since they had escaped from God’s wrath – the death punishment due to their practice of idolatry. But God with all His riches made them believers sanctified by the Word so that they obtained spiritual blessings and eternal places in heaven (Ephesians 1: 3-6).
Like the Ephesians and us, how did the gentiles live out their lives before they knew the Lord? We were (spiritually) dead because of our transgressions and sins. In other words, we obeyed the ruler of the kingdom of the air that works among rebellious and disobedient people (Ephesians 2: 1-5).
Why do men disobey God’s Word / commands? Because they tend to satisfy the desires of their hearts, ending up in eternal death. Nonetheless, the merciful Lord did not want anyone to perish but to turn around and repent (2 Peter 3:9). For this reason, He sent his only Son – Jesus – so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life (John 3: 16).
He chose us that we may be holy (Ephesians 4: 1) without blemish before Him through the Word of God and the power of Jesus’ cross. That way, we will obtain spiritual blessings from heaven. But this all depends on how intimate our relationship with God is. Are we sincerely willing to be sanctified by His Word until we get holy without blemish before God instead of men?
Please note that the Word of God is useful for teaching, reproof, correction and training in righteousness. In this way, everyone who belongs to God may be equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3: 16-17).
Are we willing to go through the process of crucifixion that provides ultimate life transformation so that we can witness to those around us in speech, actions and purity (1Timothy 4: 12)?
A sanctified life is a transformed life. It is not an exclusive lifestyle, staying away from others. Transformed by the Word of God, one’s personal life, marriage or household can set an example for others and lead them to know who our Lord is.
These days, we are being confronted with multiple temptations and trials that act on our faith, especially things related to desires that can drown us in destruction (1 Timothy 6: 11). What should we do? Run away from them and pursue righteousness, godliness, faithfulnes, patience and gentleness; the Holy Spirit in us empowers us to be God’s people (1 Timothy 6: 11). Indeed, God’s amazing grace has been granted to us, the once idol-worshipping gentiles. It has transformed and even adopted us as His children (Ephesians 1: 5).
How about our position as God’s children?
1 John 3: 9 writes, ”Everyone who has been fathered by God does not practice sin, because God’s seed resides in him, and thus he is not able to sin, because he has been fathered by God.”
1 John 3: 1,3 record,“See what sort of love the Father has given to us: that we should be called God’s children—and indeed we are! For this reason the world does not know us: because it did not know him .... And everyone who has this hope focused on him purifies himself, just as Jesus is pure.”
Spiritual growth takes a step-by-step process leading to holiness and eternity. This process begins from selection. It is then followed by sanctification and ends up with ordination as God’s children with God’s DNA /seed, making them immune to sins. His devine power enables us to live a godly life and keeps us away from wordly desires (2 Peter 1: 3-4). Besides, our knowledge of God gets stronger and grows mature, making the unity of faith in fellowship possible.
Our status as God’s sanctified children is not the end of our spiritual blessings as we will obtain the full right to enter the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior (2 Peter 1: 11), and live together with Him forever. Indeed, it is an unspeakable pleasure and joy that the world and its splendor cannot take over! With this in mind, let’s not spoil God’s grace. As long as we live, let’s make good use of the opportunities that come our way. Let’s turn round and repent to be sanctified by His Word because the eternal life in His Kingdom is awaiting us. Amen.